How to Write an Essay in Vce Philosophy
WRITING AN ESSAY IN VCE PHILOSOPHY Writing a philosophical essay is different from essay writing in many other disciplines. The aim of a philosophical essay is to defend a thesis, usually one which is fairly narrowly defined, through the presentation of reasons. A good philosophical essay will normally exhibit the following virtues: 1. Has a clear thesis
2. Has a clear argumentative structure
3. Presents reasons which support the thesis
4. Stays on topic
5. Examines and presents philosophical positions in a charitable and clear manner
6. Exhibits original thinking
Below, I will examine each of these virtues in more detail, and then provide an example of a good introduction. 1. Has a clear thesis
Good essays in philosophy normally have a thesis that can be stated in a very simple and straightforward manner, and the thesis should be obvious to the reader. One simple way of doing this is by saying something like ‘In this paper I will argue that …’ As this example suggests, it is perfectly acceptable, indeed it is perhaps standard practice, to use the first person in your paper.
In order to help the reader understand the paper, the thesis of the paper should be stated in the introduction. Indeed, it is often presented in the first sentence. There is no need to dazzle the reader with your ability to construct flowery sentences, or impress upon them the depth of your historical knowledge. It is far more important to be clear and concise. 2. Has a clear argumentative structure
The aim of a philosophical essay is to provide a defence of a particular philosophical thesis. One way in which this can differ from essays in other fields is that in philosophy there is a strong and explicit expectation that this defence will take a particular form, namely that it will be a reasoned defence. A reasoned defence is one that presents the reader with reasons to believe that the thesis is true (as opposed, for example, to attacking
2. Has a clear argumentative structure
3. Presents reasons which support the thesis
4. Stays on topic
5. Examines and presents philosophical positions in a charitable and clear manner
6. Exhibits original thinking
Below, I will examine each of these virtues in more detail, and then provide an example of a good introduction. 1. Has a clear thesis
Good essays in philosophy normally have a thesis that can be stated in a very simple and straightforward manner, and the thesis should be obvious to the reader. One simple way of doing this is by saying something like ‘In this paper I will argue that …’ As this example suggests, it is perfectly acceptable, indeed it is perhaps standard practice, to use the first person in your paper.
In order to help the reader understand the paper, the thesis of the paper should be stated in the introduction. Indeed, it is often presented in the first sentence. There is no need to dazzle the reader with your ability to construct flowery sentences, or impress upon them the depth of your historical knowledge. It is far more important to be clear and concise. 2. Has a clear argumentative structure
The aim of a philosophical essay is to provide a defence of a particular philosophical thesis. One way in which this can differ from essays in other fields is that in philosophy there is a strong and explicit expectation that this defence will take a particular form, namely that it will be a reasoned defence. A reasoned defence is one that presents the reader with reasons to believe that the thesis is true (as opposed, for example, to attacking